Chapter 6: The Mysterious Xiao Xuan
It was said that the sun and moon of the Xiao Clan were two immensely powerful Heavenly Flames, which was why they occasionally clashed.
However, the truth behind this phenomenon was unknown to the younger generation. Perhaps only when one became a Dou Sheng could they uncover the true secrets of the sun and moon.
But for now, the teenagers cared little about the harmony between the celestial bodies. Their focus was on the joy of the moment.
"Life's journey, dreams stretch long as the road,
On the path, wind and frost lash the face bold..."
Xiao Yan sang with passion, holding a microphone crafted from the magical core of a Tier 5 Two Headed Serpent Beast. His voice echoed from a large serpent head, taller than a person, positioned nearby.
This audio device had been custom made for Xiao Yan by a clan array master at great expense. It had recently caught the attention of several clan elders.
Some dismissed it as frivolous and a distraction from serious pursuits.
Others admitted it was innovative and creative.
A few had even begun crafting their own versions.
"Life is but dreams and passion's desire,
In dreams, faintly, tears glimmer in the fire..."
Xiao Yan sang with heartfelt emotion, occasionally sipping on a cup of fruit wine.
Around the square, colorful lights created from beast cores bathed the scene in vibrant hues. The romantic lighting, combined with the buzz of alcohol, filled the young crowd with energy and excitement.
Xiao Mei played the flute, while Xiao Yu strummed a zither.
Even the chubby Xiao Feng, the largest of them all, joined in by dancing after a few drinks. Despite his size, he moved with surprising agility and rhythm.
The group roasted fish stolen from Xiao Ning's family, drank wine pilfered from Xiao Feng's grandfather, snacked on spiritual fruits from Xiao Mei's house, and enjoyed other rare items that their band of "house thieves" had secretly acquired.
Laughter filled the air as they sang, danced, and feasted with abandon.
"Life's path, the happy youth we are!"
As Xiao Yan belted out the final line of his song, a spatial rift suddenly tore open behind him. Xiao Lin, dressed in a simple, ancient hemp robe, stepped out.
"The branch leader is here! Stop drinking! The branch leader has arrived!"
A sharp eyed boy who hadn't been drinking noticed the rift and urgently nudged those around him awake.
In an instant, everyone froze. Except for Xiao Yan, who remained immersed in his singing, the others quickly stood at attention, afraid to even breathe loudly.
Even Xiao Li, usually composed, appeared slightly uneasy.
Xiao Lin was the head of their royal branch and a Dou Sheng level powerhouse. His authority and presence demanded absolute respect.
The teenagers, who were already nervous in front of Xiao Li, were utterly subdued before Xiao Lin, standing as stiff as frightened chicks.
"Stop patting me I'm singing!" Xiao Yan complained irritably, feeling someone tap him on the shoulder. He tried to swat the hand away.
Boom!
A surge of powerful Dou Qi entered his body, clearing out the effects of the alcohol in an instant. It was as refreshing as a splash of cold water on a scorching summer day or as startling as a hot stream on a snowy winter night.
"Grandpa? Are you here to join the fun?" Xiao Yan exclaimed, snapping out of his daze. His reaction, however, was far from respectful. Instead, he attempted to drag the old man into their festivities.
After all, Xiao Yan had once achieved the legendary feat of urinating on a Dou Sheng's head as a baby respect wasn't exactly ingrained in him.
"Fun? Nonsense! The patriarch wants to see you. Come with me now!" Xiao Lin scolded, glaring at Xiao Yan. His expression was unusually tense as he grabbed Xiao Yan's shoulder and pulled him through the spatial rift.
The moment the two disappeared, the teenagers let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Did the branch leader just say the patriarch wants to see Brother Yan?"
The boys exchanged stunned glances, struggling to process the news.
There were only a handful of people in the entire Xiao Clan who could be addressed as "the patriarch."
"Patriarch?"
Inside the spatial rift, Xiao Yan was also pondering the identity of this "patriarch."
Unlike the clueless teenagers, Xiao Yan's soul and mind retained the wisdom and experience of his previous life, albeit tempered by his current youthful body.
"Someone Grandpa would call 'the patriarch'..."
A bold guess formed in Xiao Yan's mind, though it seemed almost too extraordinary to believe.
If his guess was correct, the truth would be far beyond his current understanding.
The turbulent power of space rippled around them, each wave potent enough to kill a Dou Wang. Yet in Xiao Lin's presence, the chaotic energy became as tame as a pet.
Moments later, another spatial rift opened, and Xiao Lin stepped out, bringing Xiao Yan with him.
"This place is..." Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned as he looked at the grand and ancient hall before him.
The massive hall was carved from a single colossal stone, its grayish blue surface blending seamlessly with its surroundings. It radiated an aura that seemed to harmonize with the heavens and earth.
Twelve towering stone pillars, each hundreds of meters high, stood inside the hall. They were inscribed with intricate runes and ancient characters Xiao Yan couldn't recognize.
The walls were adorned with carvings of various high tier magical beasts, their lifelike depictions exuding a sense of ferocity.
In the center of the hall stood a man dressed in a simple blue robe, his hands clasped behind his back. His presence was so majestic that it seemed to overshadow the heavens and earth.
Merely glancing at this man caused Xiao Yan's bloodline power to surge violently, as if it were on the verge of breaking through.
"Pay respects to the Patriarch!" Xiao Lin fell to his knees with a loud thud.
"The Patriarch... Could he really be..." Xiao Yan felt a wave of dizziness as his suspicions about the man's identity grew stronger.
The blue robed man slowly turned around, revealing a face that wasn't particularly handsome but carried an indescribable gravitas. His long black hair draped over his shoulders, adding to his extraordinary aura.
"It really is him!" Xiao Yan's mind buzzed as he recognized the face a face displayed in the great halls of all Xiao Clan branches, venerated by generations of descendants.
This was none other than Xiao Xuan, the Celestial Emperor of the Xiao Clan!
Xiao Xuan was the last Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent and currently its strongest being.
A thousand years ago, Xiao Xuan had rallied the full strength of the Xiao Clan to break through to the Dou Di realm, vanquishing his rival, the Soul Heaven Emperor, with a single palm strike.
Since then, he had stood invincible in the world.
"Bow down, Xiao Yan!" Xiao Lin whispered urgently.
Thud! Xiao Yan knelt immediately, pressing his forehead to the ground. "Xiao Yan pays respects to the Patriarch! May the Patriarch live forever and reign supreme for all eternity!"
"Hmm?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Xuan's usually stoic face, a rarity after a millennium of tranquility.
"You're one of the most promising geniuses of our clan. A genius should carry themselves with pride," Xiao Xuan remarked.
Hearing the Patriarch's praise, Xiao Lin trembled slightly. His eyes reflected both pride and relief as he looked at his grandson.
Most members of the Xiao Clan would never have the chance to meet Xiao Xuan in their lifetime. Even Xiao Lin himself had only seen him once on the day he broke through to Dou Sheng.
Xiao Yan, however, remained unmoved, bowing his head lower. "Thank you for the Patriarch's praise. May the Patriarch live forever!"
"What an interesting young man," Xiao Xuan mused, his face softening into a rare smile.
"Enough flattery. Stand up," Xiao Xuan said with a wave of his sleeve. A gentle breeze swept over Xiao Yan, lifting him effortlessly to his feet.
"I was speaking from the heart," Xiao Yan replied seriously, his expression sincere.
"Xiao Lin, you may leave. I have matters to discuss with this young man," Xiao Xuan said, gesturing for Xiao Lin to depart.
"Yes, Patriarch!" Xiao Lin replied hastily. Without sparing another glance at his grandson, he tore open a spatial rift and disappeared.
"Seriously, Grandpa?" Xiao Yan muttered under his breath, dumbfounded by his grandfather's hasty retreat.
"Well, young man, it's time for us to have a proper conversation," Xiao Xuan said as he took a step forward, closing the distance between them in an instant.
"What could the Patriarch possibly want to discuss with me?" Xiao Yan asked, still puzzled as to why someone as insignificant as him had been summoned by the leader of the clan.
Even if he was a rare divine grade bloodline within the clan, the Xiao Clan, supported by Dou Di level figures, had produced over a dozen such individuals in the past millennium.
"Haha, I'm sure you're wondering why I wanted to see you." Xiao Xuan chuckled, tossing a jade book to Xiao Yan.
"What is this?" Xiao Yan frowned as he glanced at the book's title.
Clatter!
The moment he read the title, Xiao Yan's pupils shrank to pinpoints. His steady hands trembled, and the jade book slipped from his grasp, falling to the ground.
"This story you've read it before, haven't you?" Xiao Xuan's voice boomed like thunder, resonating in Xiao Yan's ears.
"Am I right, outsider?"
(End of Chapter)
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